Envelop-sealing machine.



H. Y. ARMSTRONG. ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1|. 1911.

' 1,269,671 Patented June 18, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESS' A TTORNE YS.

INVENTOR. fi mmsi/mg. BY

H. Y. ARMSTRONG.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE H. 191?.

1,269,671. v V 1 I PafentedJune 18, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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4 BY I ATTORNEYS.

Hm ARMSTRONG.

' ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 191].

1 ,2 6 9 ,67 1 Patented June 18, 1918.

SISHEETSUSHEET 3 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE YS.

WITNESS UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoEj' HARRY Y. ARMSTRONG, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASsIGNoR To UNITED SEALING MACHINE coMrANY, or TIoN or MASSAcHUSETTS.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- ENVELOIP-SEALING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 11, 1917. Serial No. 174,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Y. ARM- STRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, 1n the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Sealing Machines, of which the following is a specitable head carrying means adapted to moisten the flaps of the envelops and improved devices separate from the head to intermittently supply moistening fluid to said means, characterized by the separation of the moistening means from the supply for more uniform and efficient moistening of said means.

Other objects and advantages will ap pear in the following description and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention, in an embodiment at present preferred, is shown for illustrative purposes, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the sealing machine with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail a part of the receiving magazine;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the yieldable keepers for the receiving magazine I Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 55 Of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec tion of the machine, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of a part of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken similar to Fig. 6, showing certain parts of the latter in diiferent relative positions.

Referring to these drawings in detail, the frame of the machine is indicated at A. The motive power of the machine may consist advantageously of a suitable electric motor B, mounted on the lower part of frame A. Mounted in frame A in a manner to be later described in detail are the following elements,-a magazine to receive envelops to be sealed, a movable moistening device to moisten the gummed flaps of the Patented June 18, 1918.,

envelops, a means for intermittently supplying fluid to themoistening device, sealing rolls to press the moistened flaps to the envelop body, a reciprocable slide to successively deliver envelops to the sealing rolls,

yieldable keepers associated with the receiving'magazine to control the removal of en- Velops therefrom, a delivery magazine, and

devices to take sealed envelops from the rolls and stack them upon the delivery magazine.

The receiving magazine comprises two laterally spaced side lates 10 and two relatively short rear gui es 11,.one of which is shown in Fi 3. Plates 10 have upwardly and forwar 1y curved portions provided with inturned flanges 13 to engage the front edge of the envelops, and the rear guides 11 are flanged as shown in Figs. 1 to '8 to rest upon the rear parts of plates 10. Guides '11 are adjustably held to the latter by screws 14 which are movable in suitable slots 1n plates 10, as shown in. Fig. 2, to permit envelops of varying widths to be accommodated between the guides 11 and flanges 13. The plates 10 are slidably mounted on a cross rod 15 secured to frame A and-may be held to the rod in various positions of axial-adjustment thereon by set screws 16, whereby envelops of varyinglengths may be accommodated. The'rear guides 11 have at their lower ends inturned and forwardly extending flanges 17 (Figs.

1 and 3) ,to support the lowermost envelop (Z in therecelving magazine along its rear edge, as clearly shownin Fig.6. The lowermost envelop d is supported along its for ward edge by a plate 18 which extends transversely across the frame A and is suitably secured thereto. The central'portion of plate 18 is bent downwardly to permit the 0f the lowermost envelop to open as indicated in Fig. 6 and, to further assist in opening the flaps 03,

supported that they incline downwardly toward the plate 18.

The described flange'13 for engaging the front edge of envelops cl is cut away near the envelops are so the lower part of the plate to permit envelops to be delivered in a forwardly direction (to the right) from. the magazine. Near the forward lower part of the latter means are provided to restrain all but the lowermost envelop (Z from forward movement. These means comprise brushes 19 (Figs. tand 6') which are slidable upon a rectangular cross bar 20 with a sufficient amount of friction so that they remain in any of the positions to which they may be moved. Bar 20 extends transversely across frame A and is mounted thereon for vertical adjustment. The ends of bar 20 have slots 21 therein (Fig. A) to receive retaining bolts 22 (Fig. 2) which hold the bar to the frame for vertical movement in an obvious manner. The frame of each brush 19 has a backing plate 23 secured thereto which extends downwardly toward the lower ends of the brushes and terminates at a distance from the lower ends of the latter substantially equal to the thickness of the thickest envelop which would ordinarily be handled. The plates 23 function to prevent a plurality of envelope from engaging the brushes if by chance other envelops above the lowermost should be carried therewith by frictional engagement when the latter is withdrawn in a manner to be described. The brushes are adjusted by raising or lowering bar 20, so that their lower edges are spaced from plate 18, a distance only slightly less than the thickness of the envelop. Thus, only aslight, although effective, resistance is presented to the lowermost envelop so that it may be removed from the magazine without great effort. The bristles yield as the envelop is pushed forwardly and lightly brush across the envelop, as distinguished from a rigid keeper which does not yield and has to be cammed upwardly by the en velop itself to the detriment of the latter.

The means for moistening the gummed flaps cl con'iprises a head or disk 25 which is pinned (Fig. 6) to the upper end of a vertical shaft 26 and which is rotatable in a horizontal plane and substantially in the plane of the gummed fiap (1 of the lowermost envelop. Shaft 26 is mounted in suit able brackets attached to frame A and bears at its lower end a worm wheel 27 (Fig. 2) which in turn meshes with a worm 28 on one end of the shaft of motor B. Substantially half of the periphery of disk 25 is concentric with its axis and about this portion of its periphery is a strip of felt 29 or other suitable absorbent material which is secured to the under face of the disk and protrudes concentrically beyond the periphery of the latter. The outer and lower edge of felt 29 is beveled at an angle substantially the same as that assumed by the open flap (Z and. as the disk 25 is rotated, the beveled portion of the strip wipes across the gummed flap covering all portions of the latter as will appear. Felt 29 is more or less saturated with water, being intermittently supplied by means to be described, and therefore moistens the gummed flap d. v The means'for moistening felt 29 will next be described. Adjacent one side of frame A and suitably secured thereto is a container 30 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is formed with a chamber 31 and a well 32 connected to the latter by an opening 33.

' Above the well 32 is a cylindrical supply tank 3a which extends transversely across the rear of the machine and is removably supported, as shown in Fig. 2, by pins 35 which loosely rest in brackets secured to and extending upwardly from frame A. Tank 3% has been shown as removed from Fig. 1 to reveal parts thereunder. Referring to Fig. 5, an outlet pipe 36 is threaded into the lower part of the tank and depends into well 32. Pipe 36 may be raised and lowered in the well by turning the pipe by the knurled portion provided, and may be held in various positions of vertical adjustment by a check nut 37. Tank 34 has no air vent other than pipe 36, and it will be obvious that fluid from the tank will flow into well 32 only when the level of the water in the latter falls below the bottom of pipe 36. Thus, the level in well 32 and chamber 31 may be automatically maintained substantially constant and the level may be varied when desired by raising or lowering pipe 36. Extending loosely through the latter is a stem 38, the lower end of which is normally supported on the bottom of well'32 as shown. On the upper end of stem 38 is a valve 39 which is normally held away from its seat in the tank to permit fluid to flow therefrom, but, when tank 34 is lifted out of its supporting brackets, valve 39 automatically closes by gravity and stops the flow of fluid.

The well 32 supplies the chamber 31 and v in the latteris a spherical fioatiO which may be a rubber ball. for example. Float 40 1S ordinarily forced against the conical top of the container by the tluid. Container 30 has a slot 41 therein through which the felt 29 on the described disk is movable to engage the float 40. The felt 29 is arranged to force the float downwardly a slightamount as it first engages therewith and thereafter to turn the float so that a freshly moistened surface is always presented to the felt. Float 40 may be roughened as shown. or it may be smooth, but the illustrated construction is preferred since a plurality of pockets are formed which will more effectually carry the water to the felt. It will thus be seen that at each revolution of disk 25 the entire surface of felt 29 is moistened. and the degree of nioistening may be varied by varying the fluid level in chamber 31.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, slidably sup- B. Thus, the disks 53 may driven.

ported on a pair of spaced rods 12 secured in parallel relation to frame A is a carriage 43 which is reciprocable by a connecting rod 4-1 (Figs. 1 and 6), the latter being actuated by a crank 45 on the described shaft 26. Secured to and extending forwardly from carriage 43 in spaced parallel relation are a pair of thin blades 46 which are movable just above the upper surface of disk 25 and are guided between a central circular boss on the disk 25 and a disk 47 held thereto as shown in Fig. 6. Blades 46 engage between the body of the envelop (Z and the gummed flap d and transfer the envelop to the sealing means. The rotatable moistening device and the reciprocable feeding device are covered by plates 0 which extend across the tops of frame A (Fig. 2). These plates have been purposely omitted in Fig. 1 to reveal the devices therebelow.

The sealing means comprises two preferably rubber covered rolls 18 which are mounted one above the. other adjacent the forward part of the receiving magazine. The upper roll 18 is slidable vertically in frame A and is forced against the lower'roll by coiled springs 49 in the usual well known manner. oth rolls are connected by inter-- I meshing gears 50 arranged just inside one of the frames A. The lower roll 48 is driven by a gear train 51 from a shaft 52. The envelops, delivered into the bight of rolls 4:8 by blades 16, are carried between the rolls to seal the flap d to the envelop, and the sealed envelops are delivered from the rolls to a stacking device.

The latter comprises two disks 53 (Figs. 1, 6, and 8) which are slidably keyed to sleeves 54 as shown in Fig. 8 and maybe held in various positions of axial adjustment thereon by screws 55. The sleeves 54 are loosely mounted on the described shaft 52 and may be held thereto by screws 56 (Fig. 1). Sleeves 5Lmay be angnlarly adjusted relatively to shaft 52 by loosening screws 56 and turning the sleeves. The shaft 52 is connected by bevel gears 57 to a vertical shaft 58 (Fig. 6) and. on the lower end of the lat ter is a worm wheel 59 (Fig. 2), which is driven by. a worm (not shown) on the motor be continuously Between the disks 53 and above shaft 52 isa table 60 (Figs. 1 and 6) which has a -do,wnwardlybent forward face 61 (Fig. 6). Secured to frame A and extending from the lower end of member 61 forwardly with a slight upward inclination are a pair of spaced parallel plates 62. Slidable upon the latter is a carriage 63 which hasa central upstanding finger 6 1 angularly adjustable relatively to the carriage. The latter tends to move bygravity into such a position that ,the. finger, 6 1 abuts the part 61. and the sealed envelops are adapted to be received" therebetween. The carriage 63, plates 62, and member 61 constitute the delivery magazine for the envelops.

' The disks 53, one on each side of table 60, are spaced just sufficiently-to receive therebetween the envelope d. Extending from each disk 53 toward table 60 is a flange which starts from the center of the disk with a straight portion 65 and then extends spirally as at 66 toward the outer periphery of the disk and terminates, by doubling back on the spiral portion with a straight portion 67 which is arranged nearly at right angles to the portion 65. When the envelop (Z leaves rolls 4C8, disks 53 are positioned, as shown in Fig. 8, so that flange 67 forms with the upper surface of table 60 an open ended slot 68. The envelope (Z are thrown from .the rolls 4L8 at high speed into slot 68 and travel into the position shown in Fig. 8, wherein they are positioned both laterally and longitudinally. As disk 53 rotates, the flange 67 holds the envelop (Z from leaving the table and eventually the flange 65 engages the envelop from below, tipping the rear end thereof. .As the rear end of the envelop is tipped, the flange 67 gradually withdraws fromengagement with the envelop allowing the latter on continued tipping to slide over the forward edgeof table 60 upon the members 62. The flanges 66 hold back the stack ofenvelops on members 62 so that the incoming envelop can freely pass to the latter as described. Continned rotation of f the disks permit the flanges 65 to bring the envelop into substantially vertical position with its rear face substantially contiguous to the member 61. As the incoming envelop is thus positioned, the previously stacked envelops are released from the large ends of flanges 66 and fall back into engagement with the incoming envelop by the force exerted by carriage 63. Shortly thereafter, the small ends of flanges 66 engage the stack of envelops and move them forwardly away from plate 61 to per mit another envelop to be delivered on members 62 as described. r i

The operation of the machine will be briefly described. As the motor B is encr- Jgized, the disk 25 is revolved. The edge of disk 25 in advance of the felt, that "is the part of disk 25 which first engages the'flap of the envelop, is formed with a knife edge to enter between the envelop and flan and the stack and wipes across the gummed portion to moisten it. After the forward portion of felt 29 has engaged and moistened the rear gummed portion of flap cl, the fingers 46 engage the envelop between the flap and body and commence to move it toward the feeding rolls. During the latter movement, other portions of the felt 29 sweep across the flap, inoistening new portions of the flap as the latter is withdrawn until all the gummed portions are thoroughly moistened. The envelop then is taken into the bight of rolls 48 and in traveling therethrough the moistened flap d is firmly pressed to the body of the envelop. The sealed envelops are thrown upon table 60 and are removed therefrom and stacked upon the plates 62, as already described.

An important feature of the invention is the separation of the moistening felt from the fluid supply therefor. The revoluble moistener disk 25 can thereby be made of much lighter construction than that disclosed in the Davis patent above referred to. The troubles due to carrying water in a moving part of the machine are also eliminated. Furthermore, the fluid is supplied to the felt in a uniform and rcgulable manner. It is not necessary for the fluid to work its way through a mass of absorbent material by capillary action to reach the surface effective for moistening the envelops with the possibility of clogging from various sources. On the contrary, the fluid is applied directly to that portion of the obsorbent material which will engage the gummed flap of the envelop, and the amount of fluid applied may be regulated within narrow limits. The various parts of the fluid supplying devices are exposed for ready inspection and adjustment, and the operator can quickly detect and remedy troubles due to insuiiicient or excessive moistening without waiting for the envelops to be delivered from the machine imperfectly sealed.

The invention has been described in a preferred form for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

hat I claim is- 1. An envelop sealing machine, compris ing in combination, means to support an envelop for free extension of the flap thereof angularly relatively to its body, a head rotatable on an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the envelop body is supported and provided with a beveled marginal portion having absorbent material on part of such portion adapted to extend between the projecting flap of the envelop and its body to moisten the gummed portion of the flap by engagement therewith, means to press the moistened flap to the body of the envelop to seal the latter, means to carry the envelop from its supeled marginal portion partly of absorbent 1 material adapted to extend between the projecting flap of the envelop and its body to moisten the gummed portion of the flap by engagement therewith, means to press the moistened flap to the body of the envelop to seal the latter, means to carry the envelop from its supporting means to the sealing means, a container for moistening fluid arranged in the path of said absorbent portion, and means in the container engageable intermittently by said absorbent portion and adapted to be moved by the latter to convey fluid from the container to said portion.

3. An envelop sealing machine, comprising in combination, means to support an envelop for free extension of the flap there of angularly relatively to its body, a head rotatable on an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the envelop body is supported and provided with a beveled marginal portion partly of absorbent material adapted to extend between the projecting flap of the envelop and its body to moisten the gummed portion of the flap by engagement therewith, means to press the moistened flap to the body of the envelop to seal the latter, means to carry the envelop from its supporting means to the sealing means, a container for moistening fluid arranged in the path of said absorbent portion, a ball float in the container engageable intermittently by said absorbent portion and adapted when the float is turned to convey fluid from the container to said portion, a tank for containing a supply of fluid, and means connecting the tank and container so that the former may feed the latter and so that the fluid level in the container is maintained substantially at a constant level.

4:. An envelop sealing machine, comprising in combination, means to support an envelop for free extension of .the flap thereof angularly relatively to its body, a head rotatable on an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the envelop body is supported and provided with a beveled marginal portion of absorbent mate rial adapted to extend between the projeeting flap of the envelop and its body to moisten the gummed portion of the flap by engagement therewith, means to press the moistened flap to the body of the envelop to seal the letter, means to carry the envelop moistening fluid, a single outlet pipe there- 10 from its supporting means to the sealing from depending into said container and means, a container for moistening fluid arspaced above the bottom of the latter, ranged in the path of said absorbent porwhereby the fluid level in thecontainer may tion, and a ball float in the container enbe maintained substantially constant, means gageable intermittently by said absorbent to move the pipe relatively to the container 15 portion and adapted to be turned by the to vary the level of the fluid therein.

latter to convey fluid from the container to sai d portion, a tank for containing the HARRY Y. ARMSTRONG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of rate! a Washington, D. G. i

I It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,269,671, granted June 18, 1918,

iipon the application of Harry Y. Armstrong, of Springfield, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Envelop-Sealing Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 1, claim 4, for the Word letter read latter; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of July, A. D., 1918.

[SEAL] R. F. l/VHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 1206. 

